The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-12-10
MARY'S FATE.
A Pathetic and Romantic Sketch
Of Western Life.

A Pathetic and Romantic Sketch
Of Western Life.
I'VE do not take the worth of q
woman into consideration. either when
we love or when we regret her."
1t is no uncommon thing for q young
ster to become infatuated with woman
entirely unworthy of his love and affec-
ton, and when in our quiet little noun
tain town Of B. in Indian Territory.
rumor began to talk of young L. in
connection with the subject of this
sketch, to me 1t was no surprise. His
people came to me for advice and help
in the premises. l recommended pa
thence and apparent indifference and the
matter would die q natural death.
well remember the day that Mary came
to town, having been at the hotel when
the silver stage came slowly numbering
into B..
Seated up beside big Tom." the
stage driver, was petite. black-eyed
black-haired girl of about nineteen
years, with Is sweet and pretty face
a. l ever saw in my life. could not
imagine who she was. but a few days
after, she was arrested and brought be-
fore me for disorderly conduct / was
only q justice Of the peace. but honored
with the title Of Judge. western Gus
tom. but never before fully appreciated
the dignity Of my title until she looked
up into my face with such pleading
expression and said:
''Judge. please don't be hard on me-;
Twas persuaded to drink, and not be-
ing accustomed to it, acted strangely
and noisily. Please. judge, don't be
hard on me-"
Well. what could I dor lam an old
fellow. in fact what they call an old
timer in the Territory, and particularly
pride myself on my utter indifference
to women, but well. I couldn't resist
her, and with . mild rsprimand re-
leased her.
occasionally caught a glimpse Of
her on the street. always neatly dressed
and looking a. innocent and modest
as . schoolgirl, but gave her no
especial thought until her name began
to be coupled with young LIS l met
the youngster almost daily. but he never
spoke to me of her. though l have
known him for many years and have
always been his friend and counsellor.
One evening in December / was sit
ting in my Office comfortably ensconced
In my big chair, the logs were crack
ling merrily in the open fireplace, and
was-well. must l confess itp Dream
ing-just think Of it! An old fellow
sixty years old dreaming, and of whatp
The old, old story-'.a woman"-of
one who had been all in all to me in the
years gone by when was young law
student in Maryland. In the glowing
embers l saw her sweet face, looking at
me in beseeching manner. the way
she looked when !, years ago, listened
TO the worlds calumny and flung from
me the purest love ever offered man.
! learned the truth afterward, but she
was anothcr's wife then and q wanderer
in the wild West. Thought Of my own
miserable. misspent existence. years of
dissipation and ungodliness in mining
camps and Wild western towns, and
with shudder / was forced to realize
that with all my philosophy and
sophistry was but miserable old fell
low after al. when rap-rap-rap re-
sounded sharply at my door. and
without waiting for an answer in rushed
young IL" He was covered with
snow from head to foot and his face
was a. pale ~ death. why. my boy"
cried. what is the mattere" He
hesitated for . moment and then COM
ing up to me. put his hands ON my
shoulders and asked: Judge, win you
help mef"
''Wiu ! help your OF course win.
What IL itp Out with it"
He sank slowly into . chair opposite
me and then with boyish petulancs
asked:
s:Are AL women alikep' and before
could answer, continued. ''they are al
q false - he'll"
Hooked 1t the boy in astonishment
TEL me your trouble" ! said. and
wen go what can be done. "
He then cemnenced By telling me IT